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[Saba Sports News] Rohit Sharma, the star Indian skipper and opener, announced his retirement from T20 International cricket shortly after leading India to victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Now, for the first time since that announcement, Sharma has opened up about his decision to step away from the shortest format of the game.
Sharma, who made his T20I debut in 2007, is the only Indian player to have participated in every T20 World Cup, finishing his career on a high note as captain of the victorious 2024 squad. Along with him, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja also announced their retirement from T20Is.
Speaking in a podcast, Sharma explained his decision: “The only reason I retired from T20Is is because I’ve had my time. I enjoyed playing the format; I played for 17 years and did well. After winning the 2024 World Cup, I thought, ‘Okay, this is the best time to move on and focus on other things.’ There are many good players who can do well for India.”
The 37-year-old added that while he could still play in all three formats, he felt it was time to give younger players a chance. “It wasn’t because I felt anything physically,” he said. “I just thought it was the right time. I could still play all three formats easily. That’s why I say fitness is in the mind, it’s about how you train your mind.”
Sharma also emphasized the power of mental strength and self-belief. “Everything is in the mind. I have a lot of self-belief because I know I can control my mind when I need to. Sometimes it’s not easy, but most of the time I can do it. If you tell your body that you’re young, that you can do this or that, of course you can,” he concluded.
Over his T20I career, Sharma played 159 matches, amassing 4,231 runs at an average of 32.05 and a strike rate of 140.89, with five centuries and 32 half-centuries. After his retirement, Suryakumar Yadav was named the new T20I captain, while Sharma continues to lead India in Test and ODI formats.